site.btaBG-ALERT Warning System to Be Tested between Nov. 7 and Nov. 29

The BG-ALERT system for warning the general public about emergencies and disasters will be tested between November 7 and November 29.

The tests are aimed at verifying the functioning of the system, as well as giving the general public an insight into the messages and the behaviour of mobile devices, accompanying it.

The testing will start in Gabrovo Region on November 7. There will be tests in the regions of Vidin, Vratsa, Lovech, Montana and Pleven on November 14, in Veliko Tarnovo, Razgrad, Ruse and Silistra regions on November 15, in Varna, Dobrich, Targovishte and Shumen regions on November 16, in Burgas, Sliven, Stara Zagora and Yambol regions on November 21, in Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia City and Sofia regions on November 22, and in Kardzhali, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Smolyan and Haskovo regions on November 23.

On November 29, a nationwide BG-ALERT test will take place. During each test, a message will be broadcast for half an hour from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., containing texts both in Bulgarian and English.

The message on the mobile device is expected to be a one-off and accompanied by a specific sound and vibration, even if silent mode is activated.

In connection with the BG-ALERT test message, received by a large number of mobile phone users on Wednesday, the contractor issued a position quoted by the Interior Ministry. The company apologized to the general public, as well as to all affected parties and institutions for any disturbance and inconvenience caused. The company explains that due to the planned nationwide tests of the BG-ALERT system for early warning over mobile networks, preliminary tests were carried out on Wednesday between 6:55 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. "Due to human error, two different messages were sent over Vivacom's network and received by their end customers," the company said in its statement, adding that after the BG-ALERT system has already been established as operational, they hope that in the future it will be an important tool for notifying the population in cases of disasters and emergencies.